Allahabad HC issues notice to Mayawati over PIL on manipulation of land records

Allahabad: The Allahabad High Court on Wednesday issued notices to BSP supremo Mayawati and two of her close relatives on a PIL alleging "manipulation" of land records in their native village while she was the UP Chief Minister.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice D B Bhosle and Justice Yashant Verma passed the order on the PIL of social worker Sandeep Bhati, who had alleged that in Badalpur village of Gautam Buddh Nagar district, a large tract of agricultural land, spread over an area of 47,433 square metres, had been declared as "abadi"(residential/non-agricultural).

The petitioner has alleged that this was done with a view to changing the land use so that sale of the plot, in part or whole, could fetch a huge sum to the owners.

The village falls in the vicinity of Greater Noida and the petitioner has impleaded Mayawati, her brother Prabhu Dayal and nephew Anand Kumar as parties in the PIL.

The court, while issuing notices to the respondents, directed the registry to club the PIL with another pending petition, wherein similar allegations have been made, and list the matter for further hearing.